What happened next in Dubai? The second part of the interview with Kassandra Koziorowicz, also known as “kassanderka.”
Editor: I liked your phrase that these are real people, so their stories are also real. Could you share one or two interesting anecdotes from your travels?
Kassandra Koziorowicz: I’m generally a magnet for strange situations, so there are plenty. One of the craziest stories happened when I was with friends in Dubai. We were heading back and had a flight to Poland. The announcements were in Arabic, so no one really understood what was going on. Suddenly, two women approached me. There’s a clear division between men’s and women’s roles at the airport, so these women grabbed me by the arm and dragged me like a child. I had no idea what was happening. They were speaking Arabic, and I couldn’t understand them at all. Finally, they realized I didn’t understand, and they explained in English that the local police had reported a woman trying to flee the country, and she was supposedly at the airport. The description matched me perfectly. I was wearing the same dress, and we had a similar build. They simply mistook me for the fugitive. So, I ended up in a small, dark, and cold room…
I was waiting while they decided whether I was this runaway woman. I was asked tons of questions about my passport—whether it was real and whether Gdynia was really a city in Poland (since I was born there). It’s hard to defend yourself in such a situation when you don’t even know what’s going on. But eventually, they let me go, as you can see (laughs), and I’m still flying around the world.
That must have been a shock for your friends as well…
It’s funny because everyone had wandered off, so at first, no one even noticed I was gone (laughs). Later, they just asked why I had been gone so long, and that’s when I told them my story.
‘This reminds me of my trip to the Caucasus and the visa stamps in my passport. Azerbaijan doesn’t always let in people with an Armenian stamp and vice versa.’
It’s random, but it affects tourists. We had a pretty intense screening when we were returning to Armenia, with questions like how much money we planned to spend. After passing that screening, the bus we were on got into an accident, so we had to find another way of getting around.
Travel offers everything – it builds memories. Of course, there are bad situations too. For example, we were looking for transportation in 40-degree heat after a two-hour screening. But over time, those memories become funnier.
You travel a lot with friends. Do they also prefer spontaneous trips? Not quite (laughs). They enjoy traveling, but not as much as my fiancé and I do. Recently, I told him, “Hey, I booked tickets.” He just said, ‘Okay, what dates?’ We complement each other – he’s just as eager to explore as I am.
It’s harder to plan with friends because everyone has jobs, studies, or kids. Planning a spontaneous trip through four countries together is tough. I’ve gone on trips with friends, but on a smaller scale.
What are your plans for your next trip?
We’re flying to Bulgaria. I’d like to change people’s perceptions of the country. When I tell someone I’m going to Bulgaria, they immediately think of the Golden Sands, the sunny coast, and all-night parties with free drinks. But I want to see Bulgaria from a more local perspective. We’re flying to Sofia, and we want to visit Plovdiv, which is supposedly the oldest city in Europe. We want to see the cultural and historical side of the country.
Macedonia is also nearby, so I’m thinking about a two-day trip to Skopje. Macedonia is one of the top five least-visited countries in the world, and people don’t seem to be impressed by it. But I’ve already done a road trip through Macedonia, and I really liked it.
I also love the Balkans—the people are very welcoming and open. I want to do a quick tour of these two countries and take away some more life lessons, rather than just the typical tourist experience.
It’s great that you make your travel dreams come true. When you decide to visit a country, you actually go and do it…
Yes, now we’re planning something big for the summer. We have to plan this one in advance because it’s not just about booking a ticket. We’re planning a trip to Central America. I can’t say exactly which countries yet, but Cuba is definitely one of them because we’ve already set things up there. From Cuba, we’ll head toward Mexico, and we’ll see where we go from there. These kinds of trips require more preparation, like insurance and dealing with time zone changes and jet lag…
In June, I’m supposed to fly to London with a friend. The plan keeps getting postponed, but I think it’ll happen eventually.
Fingers crossed for that! It’s clear that travel is about discovering new cultures and meeting people, which is a pleasure in itself. But pleasure also comes from hobbies. What are yours?
I have a lot of interests. First and foremost, travel, as I mentioned earlier. It’s not just about going somewhere; I surround myself with travel shows and books. I also love photography. Taking cool photos and videos for Instagram takes time, but it’s fascinating. And, of course, modeling, which is another thing I do. I enjoy both photographing and being photographed.
I also talk a lot, as you can tell (laughs). I need to be around people, get ideas, and share them. I need to get things off my chest so I can move forward. Social issues are also important to me. I try to post about important topics on my social media. For example, on International Women’s Day, I posted about how not all women can afford sanitary products. I try to make good use of my social platforms.
Of course, my account isn’t massive, but it reaches a certain number of people, so I feel it’s worth sharing valuable content.
‘Many people think running a social media profile is easy, but it actually takes a lot of time to have a real impact.’
Do you plan what you post on social media?
I try to. My current plan is to post three travel-related posts, followed by three about other projects I’m working on in collaboration with brands. I showcase Spots in stories. When it comes to travel reels, I describe a city or country to spark people’s interest. Unfortunately, the truth is that if there’s no funny cat or meme, it doesn’t attract much attention. But I’m happy that I have a small, engaged audience who is genuinely interested, and that’s what matters most.
Content addressing social issues might not always attract a huge audience, but it can make a difference…
Exactly, and that’s my goal. Honestly, I never thought I’d get so involved in these topics. It’s become my thing because it’s so rewarding.
I wanted to ask about one of your passions – modeling. What does it mean to you?
At first, it was a source of frustration and disappointment. Modeling can be understood in many ways. For some, it’s just a hobby. But when I was going to castings, I often heard criticism – that I was too short, that I had a scar, and so on. Now it doesn’t bother me, but it was hard to break through at first, so I eventually gave up. That’s when people started reaching out to me on their own.
‘I realized that sometimes we overlook people who are genuinely interested in collaborating and don’t open ourselves up to new content.’
Modeling helped me build confidence and grow my Instagram (check out my Instagram profile). I won’t hide that it has brought me some benefits. It’s partly how I’ve built my life and gotten to know myself better. Walking in fashion shows requires hours of rehearsal and learning how to change outfits in 30 seconds. It teaches resilience and persistence. Modeling is about playing different roles during photo shoots—a creatively fulfilling experience.
The confidence you’ve gained reminded me of how amateur theater groups help build self-esteem too. How does modeling look from behind the scenes?
Sometimes it can be toxic, I won’t lie. It depends a lot on the group of models you’re with. There’s often a lot of pressure and high expectations, and it can get overwhelming. There’s competition, but I’ve distanced myself from that because it’s stressful. Agencies impose many requirements, so I started freelancing, which suits me better. As we’ve mentioned a few times, I’m a spontaneous person who loves freedom. The idea of being told I can’t have a nose piercing, that my hair is too long, that I need to be even thinner, or that I can’t go on vacation—that turned me off. I used to think modeling was all about being part of an agency, but I’ve learned that’s not necessary, and you can do well on your own. I know I’ll never be a high-fashion model known worldwide, but that doesn’t stop me from pursuing it in my own way and growing in it.
So, you’ve really found your niche in the modeling world—a space where you can be yourself.
Exactly. I figured if I enjoy it, I’ll do it my way and hope someone else likes it too. And some companies did like it, so now I can keep going. I think I’m pretty easygoing, and people like working with me. I’m not a difficult person, which is important.
The theme of spontaneity has come up many times. How do you reconcile that with photography, where capturing the perfect shot often takes time?
It really depends on your attitude. When I’m on a trip and randomly come across something interesting, I just say, ‘Okay, I’ll take a picture of this.’ I’m not a super professional photographer, but I have a passion for photography. If I find something cool, I just take the picture.
Some people like everything to be well-organized. My chaos is what defines me, and I consider it a positive aspect – it doesn’t bother me (laughs).
We often think of spontaneity as something negative, but it all depends on how you channel it. There’s no point in forcing yourself to change…
That’s true. When I was younger, I faced a lot of stigma. I kept hearing that you’re supposed to have one job – preferably for your entire life – get a house, have kids, take one vacation a year… Basically, you’re expected to fit into those social norms. Luckily, times have changed, and as a result, my family now sees things differently. When I moved to Wroclaw almost four years ago, I heard people say that it’s impossible to balance studies, modeling, and travel. Ironically, even in spontaneity, you have to plan a little to juggle everything. But you shouldn’t restrict yourself too much either. I know people often regret not taking chances and going beyond the norm.